Don’t say anything

… but fiction-resistant me picked up a copy of “Anna Karenina” from the bookshelf last night to have something to read in bed. Julie walked through the room, saw what I was doing, and said, “Good book,” in that tentative way that mothers speak to their child as the little one stares at a plate of green peas, contemplating whether or not to take that first-ever bite.

This morning, after pre-dawn prayers and a walk with the dog through the neighborhood, I thought, “Those first few chapters were pretty good. I’d like some more.” I fetched the book, settled down in my leather armchair by the fireplace, and started reading again. If I didn’t have to go into Baton Rouge early this morning to do Christmas shopping, there I would still be.

“Anna Karenina” is one of my favorite novels. I was fortunate to take ‘Russian Literature’ taught by Louise Cowan my junior year at the University of Dallas. Dr. Cowan set a challenging reading schedule – we basically had a week to read the book. However, the deadline did not matter because once I started the novel I couldn’t put it down. I still have my notes from that class…

If you have the time (which I know you don’t), try to locate any of Dr. Louise Cowan’s essays on “Anna Karenina”.

I read it the summer after I graduated from college. I wasn’t heading to grad school right away, and my last literature course was 3 years before. I figured I needed to immerse myself in serious reading to keep my mind sharp. Or something. Happy reading.